Emma Jean Westerfield Pagan

Emma Jean Westerfield Pagan

Jean Pagan, widow of Joseph M. Pagan Jr., died Friday, January 30 at Owensboro Medical Health System. She was 85.

Jean was a graduate of the Owensboro Business College and worked for 20 years as a bookkeeper for the J. C. Rudd, Son and Company and Green River Insurance. Her lifetime was devoted in service to civic and charitable organizations, including three terms as president of the Younger Woman's Club, three terms as president of the Beta Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha; and board member for the Wendell Foster Home, the Arc of Owensboro, the Crime Prevention Program of the Owensboro Police Department, and the Owensboro Girls' Club.

She helped organize the Owensboro Mental Health Program , the West End Day Care Center and the Owensboro Spouse Abuse Center, She also provided service to a number of other local organizations including the Green River Comprehensive Care Center, Dismas House, the Commissioner's Staff of the Kentucky State Police, the Helping Hand program of the Owensboro Police Department, Habitat for Humanity,
and P.O.L.A.R. She received a Distinguished Service Award from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for 12 years in fundraising,

She was a member of the Southside Church of Christ.

Jean was a member of the All-American Club at Kentucky Wesleyan College and an avid basketball fan. She and her husband attended all home games and traveled with the Panther Express until his death in 2005. She even had a radio brought to her hospital room so she could keep up with games.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband and friend Joseph M. Pagan Jr.; her parents Rommie and Gusta Ralph Westerfield; and a sister, Winnie Vickers.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Rowland and Bonnie Pagan; grandsons Jon Paul and Clay Pagan
and his wife, Bridget; and sisters, Alice Gentry Ward and her husband Don, and Ann Emmick and her husband Roy.

Services will be conducted at noon on Wednesday, February 4, at Glenn Funeral Home with visitation Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until noon at the funeral home. Burial will be at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to St. Jude Research Hospital.